bookshelf

FOX'S BOX

Name: FOX'S BOX
Author: Emilia Zebrowska
ISBN: 978-1-61067-783-7

by Emilia Zebrowska ; illustrated by Emilia Zebrowska ‧ RELEASE DATE: Dec. 1, 2018

There’s a lot of learning packed into this little book, making it adaptable to many settings

bookshelf

A curious fox and an ensemble of animals speculate about what is inside a festive box.

White backgrounds on every page provide a focusing contrast to the colorful animals and the mysterious blue gift box. Illustrations are mixed media with hints of texture—a snake is filled in with what appears to be a blue, cable-knit sweater, while a peacock is composed of a photo patchwork of realistic feathers. Each spread introduces an animal, who guesses at the box’s contents or utters a playful phrase, with some text set in a color that matches the animal’s. Rhyming language introduces social-emotional concepts such as “nervous,” “grumpy,” and “proud.” These vocabulary words are emphasized by sharing the texture used in creating the animal. Cartoony facial expressions on the animals might seem engaging to some but contradictory to others. For example, the slightly uneven pop eyes and resulting expressions of the “rude” giraffe and “cheerful” duck are incredibly similar. Before the box is finally opened, a wordless verso focuses readers’ attention on the box on recto, the only visual, and builds anticipation. Quick gratification is delivered: “ ‘It’s a cake!’ said the delighted snake.” The whole crew of animals gathers around in an unnamed celebration—making this book appropriate for discussing myriad milestones with children.

There’s a lot of learning packed into this little book, making it adaptable to many settings . (Picture book. 2-7)

Pub Date: Dec. 1, 2018

ISBN: 978-1-61067-783-7

Page Count: 24

Publisher: Kane Miller

Review Posted Online: Sept. 22, 2018

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2018

Categories:

CHILDREN'S GENERAL CHILDREN'S

- BOOK REVIEW
SIMON SAYS OPEN THE BOOK
by Emilia Zebrowska ; illustrated by Susan Reagan

bookshelf

PILLOWLAND

by Laurie Berkner ; illustrated by Camille Garoche ‧ RELEASE DATE: Nov. 7, 2017

For Berkner’s fans; there are much better books about children visiting imaginative lands.

bookshelf

Berkner’s children’s song gets the picture-book treatment with illustrations from Garoche.

What kid hasn’t made a massive pillow fort and imagined all sorts of adventures? Well, Berkner’s premise is that there is a land where everything is made of pillows, and three lucky children get to visit there. (They appear to be siblings, perhaps a blended family: Mom and one girl are black; Dad, one boy, and one girl are white.) The illustrations transition between depictions of obvious imaginative play in a bedroom to a fantasy world and back again at the end, when the parents peek in at the three asleep. Garoche’s art consists of photos of papercut artwork arranged in dioramas with some Photoshop details. Reminiscent of Michael Garland’s work (though more pastel in color) or that of Elly McKay (though less ethereal), the illustrations are a mixed bag, with layers and hard edges juxtaposed against all the pillows. The king and queen of the song are obviously stand-ins for the parents. Children who know the tune may not sit still for a reading, while those who don’t may wonder at the repeated refrain.

For Berkner’s fans; there are much better books about children visiting imaginative lands. (Picture book. 3-7)

Pub Date: Nov. 7, 2017

ISBN: 978-1-4814-6467-3

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Review Posted Online: Aug. 11, 2017

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2017

Categories:

CHILDREN'S GENERAL CHILDREN'S

- BOOK REVIEW
MONSTER BOOGIE
by Laurie Berkner ; illustrated by Ben Clanton

- BOOK REVIEW
WE ARE THE DINOSAURS
by Laurie Berkner ; illustrated by Ben Clanton

- BOOK REVIEW
VICTOR VITO AND FREDDIE VASCO
by Laurie Berkner & illustrated by Henry Cole

bookshelf

THE NONSENSE SHOW

by Eric Carle ; illustrated by Eric Carle ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 13, 2015

A picture book made to incite pleasure and joy.

bookshelf

The celebrated picture-book artist enthusiastically joins the nonsense tradition.

Carle’s nearly 50-year career has produced myriad concept books about counting, the alphabet, and colors, as well as simple, original stories, retellings of fairy tales, and picture books that push the physical boundaries of the form. This latest proves that Carle can reinvent himself as a creator in the field, as he now revels in the absurd, eschewing any pretense of teaching a concept or even engaging with story. Instead, spread after spread uses nonsensical text and sublimely ridiculous pictures to provoke laughter and head-shaking delight. In addition to the book’s title, art immediately cues the book’s silly tone: the cover displays one of Carle’s signature collages against an empty white background; it depicts a duckling emerging from a peeled-back banana peel. The title-page art presents a deer sprouting flowers rather than antlers from its head. When the book proper begins, and language joins illustration, readers are ushered into a series of situations and scenarios that upend expectations and play with conventions. “Ouch! Who’s that in my pouch?” asks a kangaroo with a little blond child instead of a joey in her pouch. Another scene shows two snakes, joined at the middle and looking for their respective tails.

A picture book made to incite pleasure and joy. (Picture book. 3-7)